The Buzz: Time to face truth, Shane

Phil Rothfield

–,
Sunday,
December,
09,
2012,(7:36pm)

YOU can never judge an old champion on face value or listen to the spin.

Not even when it’s Shane Warne.

Warnie made his Big Bash season debut on Friday night and sadly the debate became more about his appearance than his legendary bowling skills.

There was a time when summer started with Warnie promising us a new mystery delivery.

Blog with Phil Rothfield all day today. Leave your comment below.

Now the only mystery is whether our much admired champion has had a little work done in the off-season - and we’re not talking about in the nets. Is it the missus’s Ella Bache? The dentist? Advanced Hair Studios or plastic surgery?

Or even all four of them?

It can’t possibly have been all those years of smokes, baked beans and mum’s headache pills.

It’s clear the Sheik of Tweak has become the Sleek of Cheek.

He’s ageing almost as well as Liz Hurley.

In 2009, he even looked like he was giving himself a facelift.

From the time he made his Test debut at the SCG against India in 1992 through to the slimline version you see today, Warnie has had more faces than Fu Manchu.

He has always been a sideshow, a caricature of himself - but the thing that always made it easy to look past all of that was that he was a freakish spin bowler.

The big appeal of the Big Bash is watching old champions like Warne and Murali bowl.

Last summer it was wonderful as he would tell us on Fox Sports how he would dismiss a batsman and then do it right on cue.

It was great theatre.

But last Friday at Etihad Stadium, it was different. I actually felt sorry for him.

For the first time in his career, his actions couldn’t back up his words.

You would almost feel ripped off if you’d purchased a ticket to watch Warne bowl.

Such was the punishment, he took himself off after two overs, conceding 40-odd runs.

Third-grade bowlers in parks across the country delivered better spells over the weekend.

After the game he even apologised for his performance, which included a dropped catch.

Maybe it’s time for Warnie to face facts, look in the mirror and accept he’s not the same man he used to be.

Compare the picture from his Test debut in 1992 to the man we saw on Friday night.

You’d swear it’s not the same person.

Nothing like the chubby, snowy-haired kid from the Melbourne suburbs who became an international sporting superstar.

The Ashes look to be an unachievable dream - even for the one and only Shane Warne.

(Editor’s note: Buzz has changed a little over the years too).

Ashes look to be an unachievable dream - even for the one and only Shane Warne.

* * *
Bennett in trouble if Tinkler goes
THE Newcastle Knights’ future is secure in the NRL, with or without Nathan Tinkler.

Not so for supercoach Wayne Bennett.

If the mining magnate goes bust, the members will become owners again. They’ll survive on the $7 million annual NRL grants, gate takings and sponsorship. The player contracts will be honoured because
they are all registered with the NRL and the Knights.

Bennett’s job security is another matter. He was hired by Tinkler personally and is under contract to Hunter Sports Group. He’s paid more than $1 million a year.

If a new management steps in, and I’m told the very capable former CEO Steve Burraston has been sounded out, there is no way they will be paying that much for a coach.

Either Bennett accepts a pay cut or goes - and Rick Stone then gets his old job back on a quarter of Bennett’s salary.

HIGHLIGHT: Aaron Finch’s century in the Big Bash on Friday night. This guy is another Dave Warner and should be the first chosen in Australia’s Twenty20 team.

LOWLIGHT: Dave Warner’s second ball duck at the SCG on Saturday night was a massive in his one and only appearance for the Sydney Sixers.

THE DUNCE: Whoever decided to bat Sean Abbott so far down the order for Sydney Thunder against the Sixers. He smashed one of the biggest sixes in years to the top deck of the Ladies Stand when he eventually got to the crease. He should be batting no lower than No 4.

PARTY BOYS: Colourful sporting identity Johny Elias had a surprise 50th birthday party at the Sackville Hotel in Rozelle on Saturday night. We spotted big bad Barry Hall, Blocker Roach, Robbie Farah, Sam Ayoub, Keiran Foran, Brett Stewart, trainer Tim Martin and a whole bunch of his former team mates.

PENINSULA PROBLEMS: Manly would be flat broke and out of the NRL if it wasn’t for their private owners. The club lost $1.5 million last year, even with a $500,000 top-up grant from the NRL. There is a split on the board over the future CEO David Perry following the disappointing result.

Phil RothfieldMon 10 Dec 12 (08:51am)

Phil RothfieldMon 10 Dec 12 (11:37am)

Buzz

Can you please tell me what is going on with the Sharks on going major sponsorship dramas what happened to shark energy drink ? were they not making payments? they signed on for 3 years and are gone within 6 months energy drink market is hard market to crack especially going up against red bull

is there any one else in the works? looks like some work for the new general manager

Damian Irvine was telling me last night they are still a chance of staying. Their marketing boss told me the club was looking elsewhere. This is the sort of mess that happens at a business that hasn’t had a chief executive for three years.

Phil RothfieldMon 10 Dec 12 (09:46am)

And that’s the benifit of private owners with millions if dollars when the club is struggling the owners top up the accounts and the most successful of the past decade lives in and will be here for a long time to come!! Was there any sydney club that actually made a profit??

Phil RothfieldMon 10 Dec 12 (11:36am)

Hey Buzz, leave Ken, sorry, Shane alone. It’s gotta be a real bugger bowling and catching a cricket ball with all that moisturiser on!
Not to mention the lack of aeodynamics from that bit of fibro thats bolted to his head.

He obviously didn’t fit into Trent Robinson’s plans. He can hit hard, but he’s not very mobile.

Phil RothfieldMon 10 Dec 12 (11:35am)

Is the initial hype over the A League starting to die off?

The crowds have really struggled over the past month and the ratings have plumetted too. I noticed on the weekend the Stars v Renegades match out rated the whole A League round combined. Worrying signs.

Phil RothfieldMon 10 Dec 12 (11:32am)

Irvine has done a great job from 2009 till now he has pretty much saved the club but he cannot be expected to do everything at the club
but with all the good news/vibe around the club you would think this would be wrapped up before pre season
as once again sharks fans won’t be able to get there teams jerseys till round 20 again

Phil RothfieldMon 10 Dec 12 (11:50am)

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